Methods and compositions for preventing and treating tooth erosion

Abstract

An oral composition is provided comprising crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and xylitol. The xylitol and the crosslinked PVP are in a ratio of about 5:1, and the oral composition is in the form of a lozenge or lollipop. Methods are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An oral composition, the oral composition comprising crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and xylitol, and the xylitol and crosslinked PVP are in a ratio of about 5:1, wherein the oral composition is in the form of a lozenge or lollipop. 
     
     
       2. The oral composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises glycerin, L-arginine, sodium fluoride, monopotassium phosphate, calcium chloride, green tea extract, licorice extract, eucalyptus oil, and casein phosphopeptide. 
     
     
       3. An oral composition according to  claim 1  for neutralizing saliva and re-hardening tooth enamel, the oral composition comprising an alkalinizing agent; a re-mineralizing agent; a base; a plasticizer; and a sugar alcohol, wherein the oral composition is in the form of a lozenge or a lollipop. 
     
     
       4. The composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the base comprises crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), the plasticizer comprises glycerin, and the sugar alcohol comprises xylitol. 
     
     
       5. The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the crosslinked PVP is in an amount of from about 5 to about 50% of the composition, the xylitol is in an amount of from about 20 to about 95% of the composition, and the glycerin is in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 1% of the composition. 
     
     
       6. The composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the alkalinizing agent comprises (i) a re-hardening agent, (ii) eucalyptus, (iii) licorice root, and (iv) arginine. 
     
     
       7. The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the alkalinizing agent comprises sodium bicarbonate, or potassium bicarbonate, and the re-hardening agent comprises calcium chloride, potassium phosphate and/or casein phosphopeptide. 
     
     
       8. The composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the re-mineralizing agent comprises calcium chloride, monopotassium phosphate, and/or sodium fluoride. 
     
     
       9. The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the calcium chloride is in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 0.5% of the composition, the monopotassium phosphate is in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 0.5% of the composition, and/or the sodium fluoride is in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 0.1% of the composition. 
     
     
       10. The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the composition is administered to a user's teeth via the lollipop or lozenge carrier for a time of from about 1 to about 20 minutes. 
     
     
       11. The composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the composition raises the user's saliva pH from about 7 to about 10. 
     
     
       12. The composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the composition further comprises green tea extract. 
     
     
       13. A multi-layer lozenge or lollipop for neutralizing saliva and re-hardening tooth enamel, the lozenge or lollipop comprising an alkalinizing agent; a re-mineralizing agent; a base comprising crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); a plasticizer; and a sugar alcohol comprising xylitol, wherein the xylitol and crosslinked PVP are in a 5:1 ratio, and wherein the lozenge or lollipop upon oral administration raises the saliva pH from about 7 to about 10 in about 1 minute. 
     
     
       14. The multi-layer lozenge or lollipop according to  claim 13 , wherein the lozenge or lollipop further comprises an inner core and an outer layer, and the lollipop upon oral administration is dissolved within about 20 minutes. 
     
     
       15. The multi-layer lozenge or lollipop according to  claim 13 , wherein the plasticizer comprises glycerin. 
     
     
       16. The multi-layer lozenge or lollipop according to  claim 15 , wherein the crosslinked PVP is in an amount of from about 5 to about 50% of the lozenge or lollipop, the xylitol is in an amount of from about 20 to about 95% of the lozenge or lollipop, and the glycerin is in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 1% of the lozenge or lollipop. 
     
     
       17. The multi-layer lozenge or lollipop according to  claim 13 , wherein the alkalinizing agent comprises (i) a re-hardening agent, (ii) eucalyptus, (iii) licorice root, and (iv) L-arginine. 
     
     
       18. The multi-layer lozenge or lollipop according to  claim 17 , wherein the alkalinizing agent comprises sodium bicarbonate, or potassium bicarbonate, and the re-hardening agent comprises calcium chloride, potassium phosphate or casein phosphopeptide. 
     
     
       19. The multi-layer lozenge or lollipop according to  claim 13 , wherein (i) the re-mineralizing agent comprises calcium chloride, monopotassium phosphate, and/or sodium fluoride; and (ii) the lozenge or lollipop further comprises green tea extract. 
     
     
       20. The multi-layer lozenge or lollipop according to  claim 19 , wherein the calcium chloride is in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 0.5% of the lozenge or lollipop, the monopotassium phosphate is in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 0.5% of the lozenge or lollipop, and/or the sodium fluoride is in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 0.1% of the lozenge or lollipop. 
     
     
       21. A method of making a multi-layer lozenge or lollipop for neutralizing saliva and re-hardening tooth enamel, the method comprising: molding an inner core, the inner core comprising, xylitol, crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and glycerin; and molding an outer layer over the inner core, the outer layer comprising xylitol, crosslinked PVP, glycerin, and L-arginine. 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the inner core further comprises sodium fluoride, monopotassium phosphate, calcium chloride, green tea extract, licorice extract, eucalyptus oil, and casein phosphopeptide; and the outer layer further comprises green tea extract, licorice extract, and eucalyptus oil. 
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 21 , wherein molding the inner core further comprises congealing the inner core in a mold for a period of time, and then inserting a stick into a portion of the inner core, and after the inserting of the stick into a portion of the inner core, the outer layer is then molded over the inner core.